1958’s American Look with Jake Gorst

In-Person: A Screening & Discussion

American Look originally premiered at the 1958 American Society of Industrial Designers conference. This screening presents a meticulously remastered version, with film elements sourced from the collections of Mainspring Archive and the Library of Congress.

This 1958 promotional film highlights Chevrolet’s automobile line as a showcase of American industrial design and style. It explores modern architecture, interiors, packaging, office equipment, and industrial machinery, culminating in a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of the 1959 Chevrolet Impala at General Motors’ Technical Center in Warren, Michigan. Emphasizing the abundance of consumer goods and the role of design in shaping freedom of choice, the film captures the optimism of mid-century America. Runtime: 28 minutes.

Following the screening, filmmaker and historian Jake Gorst will lead a discussion on American Look, its significance, and his motivation for undertaking the remastering process.

Jake Gorst is an Emmy Award-winning documentary filmmaker and president of Mainspring Narrative Films. Over the past two decades, he has produced and directed 11 feature-length documentaries, including Frey: The Architectural Interpreter (2020), Modern Tide: Midcentury Architecture on Long Island (2012), and Desert Utopia: Midcentury Architecture in Palm Springs (2006). His films Farmboy and Leisurama have been distributed nationally on PBS. He is also the author of Andrew Geller: Deconstructed (2015, Glitterati, Inc.) and has contributed to The Architect’s Newspaper, VOX Hamptons, HOME Miami, Modern, and Modernism magazines.

Registration is required